Psychological First Aid

3. OBJECTIVES:
To know and understand the following:
definition of Psychological First Aid
Misconceptions of PFA
Process
Ethical Guidelines
Importance to Workplace

4. WHAT IS PFA?
• Initial and immediate response
• Humane, supportive and practical assistance to fellow
human beings who recently suffered exposure to serious
stressors

5. WHAT PFA IS NOT?
• It is NOT something only professionals can do
• It is NOT professional counselling
• It is NOT psychological debriefing
• It is NOT asking people to analyze what happened or put
time and events in order
• It is NOT pressuring people to tell you their feelings or
reactions to an event.

6. WHO?
• Distressed Individual
• Employees
• Managers
• Subordinates
• Not everyone who experiences a crisis event will need or
want PFA.
PFA:

7. MORE ADVANCED SUPPORT THAN PFA ALONE
• Serious life-threatening injuries
• Upset individuals that they cannot care for themselves
• People who may hurt themselves
• People who may hurt or endanger the lives of others.

8. • Upon first contact with distressed individual
• Usually immediately following an event
PFA: WHEN?

9. • Wherever it is safe enough for you to be there
• Ideally with some privacy to protect confidentiality and
dignity of the affected person
PFA: WHERE?

10. ACTION PRINCIPLES
LOOK
PFA:
LISTEN LINK
THE 3 L

11. LOOK
SAFETY If you are not certain about
safety, seek help from others.
People with obvious
urgent needs
Know your role. Try to obtain
help for people who needs
special assistance.
Refer critically injured people
for care.
People with serious
distress
Consider who may benefit
from PFA and how best to
help.

12. DISTRESS REACTIONS
• Physical symptoms
• Anxious or fearful
• Weeping, grief and sadness
• Being on guard
• Anger or irritability
• Disoriented
• Not responding
• Feeling confused or unreal, emotionally numb

13. WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE HOW SOMEONE RESPONDS?
• Nature and severity of the event
• Their experience with previous distressing events
• The support they have in their life from others
• Physical health
• Personal and family history of mental health problems
• Cultural background and traditions
• Age.

14. LISTEN

15. LINK
• Give information
• Help them address their needs or concerns
• Connect them to social support
• Help them access appropriate services

16. ETHICAL GUIDELINES
• Be honest
• Respect a person’s right to
make their own decision
• Set aside biases and prejudices
• Make it clear that even if they
refuse to get the help now, they
can still access help in the future
• Respect privacy
• Behave appropriately according
to the person’s culture, age and
gender.
• Don’t make false promises or
give false information
• Don’t exaggerate
• Don’t be intrusive or pushy
• Don’t pressure people to tell
you their story
• Don’t share the person’s story
with others
• Don’t judge the person for their
actions or feelings

17. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT IN THE WORKPLACE?
PFA:
Potential trauma in the workplace could include exposure to:
Stressful Events – death, accident or injury
Organizational Stressors – toxic environment, harassment and threats
Physical Stressors – noise, extreme heat or cold
External threats – fire, robbery and evacuation

18. HELPING ONE PERSON MIGHT NOT CHANGE
THE WORLD BUT IT COULD CHANGE THE
WORLD FOR ONE PERSON.